| Democrats pen letter to Trump on working together for health care reform. What can they achieve? Posted: 29 Mar 2017 02:45 PM PDT ![Democrats pen letter to Trump on working together for health care reform. What can they achieve?]( "Democrats pen letter to Trump on working together for health care reform. What can they achieve?") As Republicans led by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan gear up for a second swing at health care reform, Democratic senators say they're willing to work with the president – if he stops attacking their party's landmark health care law. In a letter signed by 44 of the Senate's 48 Democrats, the bulk of the party calls on President Trump to rescind his efforts to completely abolish the Affordable Care Act, the legislation, known as Obamacare, passed in 2010.
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| 'True heroes': Melania Trump honors 13 women of courage Posted: 29 Mar 2017 02:04 PM PDT !['True heroes': Melania Trump honors 13 women of courage]( "'True heroes': Melania Trump honors 13 women of courage") The award, given annually by the State Department since 2007, acknowledges the recipients' work advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women's empowerment, often at their own personal risk. "These honorees, who have fought on the front lines against injustice, are true heroes," Mrs. Trump said at the ceremony, according to Associated Press. This year's honorees include Malebogo Molefhe of Botswana, who became an advocate for female victims of gender-based violence after being attacked and shot eight times by an ex-boyfriend in 2009.
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| A neighborly rebuke to a wayward Venezuela Posted: 29 Mar 2017 01:53 PM PDT ![A neighborly rebuke to a wayward Venezuela]( "A neighborly rebuke to a wayward Venezuela") If there is the equivalent of a "neighborhood watch" on a global level, it is the various groupings of countries by region – the European Union being the most well known. A majority of the OAS's 34 active members, including heavyweights Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina, called for talks to end a political and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. "We cannot remain indifferent," said Costa Rica's representative, Rogelio Sotela.
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| It may not be the White House, but Clinton declares she is 'out of the woods' Posted: 29 Mar 2017 01:14 PM PDT ![It may not be the White House, but Clinton declares she is 'out of the woods']( "It may not be the White House, but Clinton declares she is 'out of the woods'") Several months after losing the 2016 presidential election in a surprise result, Hillary Clinton may be ready to return to the political arena. On Tuesday, the former Democratic presidential candidate spoke to a packed house of 6,000 for the Professional BusinessWomen of California conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Secretary Clinton also criticized the Republican administration and weighed in on recent events.
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| US-Turkey deal on ISIS assault? Why that's a tough sell for Tillerson. Posted: 29 Mar 2017 12:37 PM PDT ![US-Turkey deal on ISIS assault? Why that's a tough sell for Tillerson.]( "US-Turkey deal on ISIS assault? Why that's a tough sell for Tillerson.") On paper, the United States and Turkey are on the same side in the fight against the Islamic State jihadists. Frustration is mounting on both sides, with the US and Turkey backing competing Syrian proxies as the primary attacking force in the Raqqa offensive. Recommended: How well do you understand the conflict in Syria?
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| Why California prosecutors charged anti-abortion activists who secretly filmed Planned Parenthood Posted: 29 Mar 2017 12:31 PM PDT ![Why California prosecutors charged anti-abortion activists who secretly filmed Planned Parenthood]( "Why California prosecutors charged anti-abortion activists who secretly filmed Planned Parenthood") Two anti-abortion activists who secretly filmed conversations with Planned Parenthood staff now face felony charges. On Tuesday, California prosecutors charged David Daleiden of Davis, Calif., and Sandra Merritt of San Jose, Calif., with 15 felonies. At issue is California's "two party consent" law, which requires both sides of a conversation to know that they are being recorded for it to be legal, as CNN reported.
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| Scottish Parliament backs new independence vote Posted: 29 Mar 2017 12:20 PM PDT ![Scottish Parliament backs new independence vote]( "Scottish Parliament backs new independence vote") When Scotland voted to remain part of Great Britain back in 2014, it was seen as a resolution to the independence debate – at least for a while. On Tuesday, the Edinburgh-based legislature voted 69 to 59 in favor of asking Westminster for another independence vote. The referendum would take place in late 2018 or early 2019, said Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, after the details of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union are clearer.
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| To address opioid crisis, Trump to give Chris Christie the helm Posted: 29 Mar 2017 09:36 AM PDT ![To address opioid crisis, Trump to give Chris Christie the helm]( "To address opioid crisis, Trump to give Chris Christie the helm") New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will be taking on an advisory role within the White House as chair of a special commission to fight the ongoing opioid epidemic in the United States. The commission will also consist of US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, Defense Secretary James Mattis, and another five members from state governments, law enforcement, and other groups. The panel will assist the Trump administration in identifying federal funding streams that could help address the epidemic, including treatment for those affected, according to STAT.
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| In Debbie's wake, Australia begins to pick up the pieces Posted: 29 Mar 2017 09:06 AM PDT ![In Debbie's wake, Australia begins to pick up the pieces]( "In Debbie's wake, Australia begins to pick up the pieces") Cyclone Debbie made landfall on Australia's northeast coast Tuesday, with rains, storm surges, and winds as fast as 160 miles per hour scouring the state of Queensland. Local residents – especially those in Bowen, Proserpine, and Mackay – had been warned to brace for this scenario, The Christian Science Monitor reported on Monday, with authorities urging 30,000 locals to evacuate. Recommended: Think you know Australia?
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| Former ‘Apprentice’ contestant sues Trump. Will presidential immunity shield him? Posted: 29 Mar 2017 08:12 AM PDT ![Former 'Apprentice' contestant sues Trump. Will presidential immunity shield him?]( "Former 'Apprentice' contestant sues Trump. Will presidential immunity shield him?") President Trump's lawyer said the president is immune while in office from the defamation claims brought by a former "Apprentice" contestant who accused him of sexual harassment.
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| Brexit has officially been triggered. What comes next? Posted: 29 Mar 2017 07:58 AM PDT ![Brexit has officially been triggered. What comes next?]( "Brexit has officially been triggered. What comes next?") After 44 years, Britain is officially leaving the European Union. Its relationship with the bloc is set to change, but the road map still remains to be laid out. On Wednesday, Britain's EU envoy, Tim Barrow, hand-delivered a letter from Prime Minister Theresa May to European Council president Donald Tusk in Brussels.
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| On display at Arab Summit: division and declining influence Posted: 29 Mar 2017 06:14 AM PDT ![On display at Arab Summit: division and declining influence]( "On display at Arab Summit: division and declining influence") At times both politics and pageantry, the annual gathering of leaders at the Arab Summit has been a guiding force in Arab politics and a source of drama for Arab citizens, who have rarely seen anyone challenge their autocratic rulers over the past half-century. This year's Arab Summit in Jordan consequently is serving a different function, officials and analysts say: as a showcase of the lack of Arab leadership and the waning influence of the Arab League. With several states reeling in uncertainty and strife after both the ouster of dictators and weakening of remaining autocrats, the League – like the Arab world itself – is divided, looking inward, and dominated by the Saudi rivalry with Iran.
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| As House GOP tries to revive health-care reform, Democrats emboldened to stop it Posted: 28 Mar 2017 04:52 PM PDT ![As House GOP tries to revive health-care reform, Democrats emboldened to stop it]( "As House GOP tries to revive health-care reform, Democrats emboldened to stop it") After the spectacular collapse of the repeal-and-replace effort last Friday, some Republicans contemplated reaching out to Democrats to fix Obamacare, which is still the law of the land. The White House emitted a few bipartisan signals from the press secretary about working on health-care reform. Rep. Peter King (R) of New York urged President Trump to broker a political peace with fellow New Yorker Senate minority leader Charles Schumer.
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| A good defense against terrorist hate Posted: 28 Mar 2017 01:36 PM PDT ![A good defense against terrorist hate]( "A good defense against terrorist hate") As Islamic State loses its base in Iraq and Syria, its followers are taking territory elsewhere. One place is Egypt, which could provide the militant group with greater access to Africa. Since December, an ISIS-affiliated group in Egypt has adopted a tactic aimed at rallying Egypt's Muslims to its side: It is killing Christians, which make up 10 percent of the population.
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